What? What do you mean we are already back to school? It’s early August. It’s still pool season. Summer is still here. It is still 90 degrees outside. There are still more trips to take and burgers to grill and late nights to be had! Okay, maybe I can live with the fact that it is back to school time (and now I can also get a little more work done at home). However, I cannot live with the fact that my little, cute, baby boy is in third grade! How in the world did that happen? I know every parent is familiar with growing up quotes. Time flies and kids grow up too fast. However, I am now experiencing it myself personally and I have no problem saying that I don’t like it! I loathe it. In fact, I curse at it like a sailor with too much rum in his belly!
As I walked my son to school this morning, I thought about how things change and how different he is now. What happened to my little boy!? Of course, I am hugely proud of him and the great young man he is becoming, but I also thought about, and laughed a little, at all the ways he has changed. So I came back home and sat down at my computer to put it together the top 10 ways that my son is growing up way too fast! I am sure many of you can relate to this list! I also included a few of my favorite growing up quotes.
My Child Is Growing Up Too Fast!
1 – The “I love you Dad” and the hug and the kiss when I said bye at school were still there but they had to be much more discreet – so all of his friends wouldn’t see!
2 – He no longer thinks that the Scooby Doo pajamas are cool. Now it is just sleeping in sweatpants with no shirt. I must admit, I might be a little guilty on influencing this.
3 – His idea of dancing is no longer a cute little be-bop around the house to cartoons. It is now a booty shaking, attitude drenched, pose striking music video! But, I will proudly say, he is a great dancer and he may just have a career with his moves! We can thank mom for that influence.
4 – For the first time ever, he was concerned about his hairstyle and how it looked before we left the house this morning! Culminating with asking dad if he could borrow some “hair product!”
5 – The toy room full of toys feels like a sad scene from Toy Story. Most of his old favorites, the stuff that Santa Claus and Dad searched hours for, have now been put on the back shelf being replaced by the iPad, adventure binoculars, and a really cool scooter that “drifts!”
6 – He is now asking me when exactly he can get his social media accounts! Needless to say this discussion has been shelved for a few more years. Little Man will not be posting videos on Facebook and pictures on Instagram anytime soon. Even though, he absolutely has the technology skills to do so.
7 – He no longer runs through the grocery store grabbing fruit roll ups and Fruit Loops, now he is searching for the organic fruit… and reading ingredients on labels! But, I must say I’m pretty darn proud of this one.
8 – Speaking of food, yogurt tubes, macaroni and cheese, and quesadillas just won’t cut it anymore. Right after he finds the organic fruit, he’s asking if we can do a nice fillet and a Caprese salad for dinner! I think I have created a Food Network loving monster!
9 – He still holds my hand crossing the street but instead of me looking for cars it is now actually him stopping me and saying “Dad – wait a minute and look both ways!”
10 – And finally, he looks different! My cute little two foot tall toddler turned into a four and a half foot mini version of me! Clothes are bigger, shoes are bigger, attitude is a little bigger, and he just seems bigger than life!
Growing Up Quotes
And just for fun, here are a few of my favorite quotes about kids growing up too fast!
“Growing up is hard, love. Otherwise, everyone would do it.” -Kim Harrison
You know children are growing up when they start asking questions that have answers.” -John J. Plomp
“The empty nest comes quickly. Do not squander your most precious privilege of participating in the lives of your children.” -Alan Hedquist
“I want to hold him in my arms a little longer today, because already my baby is gone. Already there is a little boy in his place. And one day not too far in the future, there will be an older boy in his place, and then a teenager, and then a young man.” -Liz Curtis Faria
“I love my boys. I love watching them growing up. I love seeing them develop, and I’m always looking forward to seeing what they’re going to become and what they’re going to be interested in later in life.” -Josh Turner
“Even though you’re growing up, you should never stop having fun.” -Nina Dobrev
“Growing old is not growing up.” -Douglas Horton
“Sometimes we’re so concerned about giving our children what we never had growing up, we neglect to give them what we did have growing up.” -James Dobson
Conclusion- They grow up so fast!
Kids grow up so fast. It seems like one moment they’re small and dependent, and the next they’re off exploring the world on their own.
This parenting thing is definitely starting to get real now! Okay, I have to go… I need to wipe my eyes and go look at old baby photos! Are your kids growing up too fast also?
Rob Youngblood is an Emmy Winning TV Host, Men’s Life and Style Expert,Communications Coach, Brand Consultant, and Single Dad. You can follow him on Twitter for all the latest.
Donna Hup says
It’s crazy how fast they grow! I remember my parents saying I was growing up too fast and I just rolled my eyes 😉 I love those kids growing up quotes too. Very meaningful.